Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 

FRIDAY, January 30th, 2026

Estate Lane, Nova Scotia

-11*C/12*F mostly cloudy 

cold and snowy days ahead

Dear Neighbor,

It is definitely a chilly in here this morning. The cats are snuggling up on the heated floor in the bathroom. I don't blame them. If I thought I would be able to get up again I would be snuggled down there right with them!

Brrr . . .

I ended up having a very busy day yesterday. I had my cleaners come late in the morning. I was expecting them. They were scheduled to come on Tuesday but the appointment got put off due to the snow, so they came yesterday instead. I always love how fresh and clean the house smells and seems after they are here.

In the meantime in the morning I got a call from the hospital saying that the Urologist wanted me to drop a Urine sample off either yesterday or today. Of course I don't have any specimen bottles.  They emailed me a requisition and after Cindy's Tai Chi class she drove me over to the hospital in town so that I could do that.  I also managed to get some cat food picked up and some sugar free lemonade. I just gave Cindy the money and she went into the shops to get it. I can't be pushing a grocery cart and walking around the grocery store with this stent in. The other night when I went out to dinner with Cindy and Dad I had to visit the bathroom three times. I will be so glad to have this all over with.

 

(source)

It is debatable as to whether or not I will be able to have the procedure on Monday anyways. There is a weather advisory for heavy snowfall in effect from Sunday on into Monday.  The roads may not be fit enough to drive all the way into Kentville.  Plus I have not got anyone to stay with me for 24 hours after the procedure. I asked Eileen but she can't or won't and Cindy can't as she has to take care of Dad. I can have someone checking up on me, as Cindy certainly would do so and I am sure Glenna across the road would as well. But I don't have anyone who can actually stay here with me. I wonder what the protocol is for someone who doesn't have anyone that can stay with them?

I feel very nervous about the whole thing. I can barely walk 10 feet without having to go pee. I am not sure how I will be able to walk the length of the hospital, onto an elevator and then up stairs to where I will need to be.  I shouldn't be dwelling on it. But I am.

This was my little man snuggled up next to me on the sofa last night. He likes to be close by. Usually when the cleaners are here they don't see him. Cinnamon comes out and watches them the whole time, but Nutmeg he stays hidden.  Yesterday he thought they had gone and he came trotting out and then noticed that they were still here. The look on his face was of pure terror and he went scooting back under one of the chairs at the table and then slunk from there off back into the bedroom. I do not know why he is so afraid of people. He is the epitome of the term "scaredy cat" when people he does not know are around.

Whenever my sister drops me off he comes to the door and looks at her through the screen until she rolls her window down and says "Bye bye Nutmeg." He gives a little meow and then gets down and goes off to do whatever. He actually looks for that bye bye. Its really cute.

Pets are wonderful. Yes they are a bit of a tie and lots of responsibility, but they also add a wonderful dimension to your life that you would not otherwise be able to experience, and, if you live alone, they are great company. Cat or dog, I would not be without a pet. I think they are quite wonderful.

 

(source)

My neighbor across the way has completely moved out now. She has moved back into one of the units on the next street that she was in before she moved into these units. She had thought she would feel safer in these places. I have no idea why she wanted to move out. At 83 I would find moving anywhere very stressful. In fact at my age I would find moving very stressful. It is not even something I want to contemplate. I will not be leaving this place until I die or unless they put me out, which I cannot imagine. I think I am a pretty good tenant. 

They (whoever they are) say that moving is one of the most stressful things you can experience.  When I was married to my second husband and bringing up our family, we moved frequently.  It was always really hard. The last few moves were the most difficult as we left children behind each time. As a mother this was really difficult. Nobody likes to leave children behind, but they reach an age where they don't want to move and you cannot force them.

When we moved from New Brunswick to Meaford, Ontario, our oldest son was in Uni and had a girlfriend (his wife) and he didn't want to leave, and when we moved back to Nova Scotia from Ontario a few years later our youngest daughter chose to move back to New Brunswick and live with her best friend and her family as she didn't want to finish her high school years with a bunch of strangers. Totally understandable. It was a wrench for me both times.

I am at a stage in life now where I am happy to just stay put.

 

(source)

This week I watched a 2011 concert by a boy group called "Take That" in Wembley stadium. It was really good.  In the 1990's they were considered to be Great Britain's answer to The New Kids on the Block.  Most people don't know who they are over here, even though they have had a few successful records over here. But if you say the name Robbie Williams, people know who he is, and he was an original member of the group.  I had all of their cd's and used to listen to them often when I was working on my art in my craft room  over in the U.K. 

Anyways I really enjoyed this concert. It was really good. I never ever got to see them in person when I lived over there. There is a documentary about them on Netflix at the moment as well.

If you like great music and want to see a really entertaining concert I can't recommend this concert enough. It's great!  You might even recognize some of the music. I found myself tapping my toes and singing along with them all through it.

 

(source)

I have plans to clean out my refrigerator today. We will see how that goes. Hopefully I can get it done. I haven't been to the grocery store for a few weeks and there is stuff in there that needs throwing out. I try not to waste things, but these few weeks I haven't been really up to cooking much to be honest.  Just quick and easy stuff. Hopefully once I have this next procedure done things can get back to normal!  I remain hopeful!

I don't really have a lot else to share with you this time. My life has been very narrow as of late.  I will leave you with a thought for the day . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*Happiness often sneaks through

a door you didn't know you left open!

~anonymous • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。 

In The English Kitchen today I am sharing a recipe for Dublin Coddle.  This is a delicious Irish comfort dish of sausage and potatoes, bacon and I added some barley.  Simple, warming, economical.

I do so hope you have a lovely Friday whatever you get up to. Stay safe and stay warm!

Don't forget!

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!